JP2006078852A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a fine-finished laminated sheet, without causing jammings, defective-pressing, distortions or wrinkles. <P>SOLUTION: Regarding the image forming apparatus 1 having a separating part 211c for separating sheets one by one, and a heating/pressurizing means 22, the apparatus is provided with a mode of forming an image on the sheet and a mode of laminating the sheet sandwiched between laminates by the heating/pressurizing means, and the separating operation by the separating part is released, at lamination mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a FAX, or a multifunction peripheral.

  Conventionally, in order to improve durability and weather resistance, laminating is performed. The laminating process is a process in which a sheet is sandwiched between layers as shown in FIG. 15 and heated and pressed to bond the laminate with the sheet sandwiched as shown in FIG. In the case of laminating, it is necessary to introduce a laminating machine, which requires a purchase cost and space. However, in recent years, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus provided with means and mode capable of laminating and not requiring a laminating machine (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

In this case, the image forming apparatus has a mode for forming an image on a sheet and a mode for laminating a sheet sandwiched between laminates by heating / pressurizing means. In the mode of forming an image on a sheet, it is necessary to feed a plurality of sheets one by one, and has a separation operation mechanism that separates and conveys the sheets one by one.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-016351 JP 2002-011916 A

  However, when feeding a laminate, the separation operation mechanism tries to separate the sheets one by one, so that the upper side and the lower side in the transport direction are separated so that the upper and lower sides of the laminate are separated one by one. Each of these forces caused jams, and there was a gap between the laminates. Due to this clearance, there were cases where defective crimping, distortion or wrinkles occurred. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a good finish after lamination that does not cause jamming and does not cause crimp failure, distortion, or wrinkle.

  A typical configuration for solving the above-described problems includes an image forming apparatus having a sheet feeding unit including a separation unit that separates sheets one by one and a heating / pressurizing unit. And a mode for laminating the sheet sandwiched by the heating / pressurizing means, and the separation operation of the sheet feeding means is canceled in the laminating mode.

  According to the present invention, since the separation operation between the laminate and the sheet sandwiched between the laminates is eliminated, the separation force due to the separation operation is not received between the laminates. As a result, misalignment, clearance, and distortion occur in the laminate, and jams, crimping defects, distortion, and wrinkles are eliminated.

  Further, the separation method is the retard method, and the drive of the retard roller is driven or in the transport direction, thereby ensuring the transport of the laminate and realizing stable transport.

  Further, since the separation method is a duplo method, the separation operation can be released by a simple mechanism that only releases the pressure of the separation friction member, which can be realized at low cost.

  Also, by performing the confirmation operation, it is possible to thoroughly prevent the double feed by releasing the separation operation, and to minimize the jam / device damage due to the double feed.

  As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with good finish after lamination that does not cause jamming and does not generate crimp failure, distortion, or wrinkle in the lamination mode with high reliability and low cost.

Example 1
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital composite copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A control unit 130 performs control such as control of image information and control of image formation. FIG. 2 shows an external view. Reference numeral 2001 denotes an operation unit that is input when setting / selecting. Reference numeral 2002 denotes a display unit that displays contents.

  The image forming apparatus has a mode for forming an image on a sheet and a mode for laminating a sheet sandwiched between laminates by heating / pressurizing means.

  In the mode for forming an image on a sheet, an image is formed on the sheet and the sheet is fixed. In this mode, an image is formed on a sheet by copying, printer, FAX reception or the like.

  In the laminating mode, a sheet sandwiched between laminates is simply heated and pressed to perform laminating, and no image is formed.

  A laminating mode and other modes (copying / printing / fax reception) can be switched by the operation unit 2001.

  First, an outline of the case where the mode is not the laminating mode (the mode for forming an image on a sheet) will be described.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a digital composite copying machine main body, and an original platen 2 made of a transparent glass plate fixedly provided is provided on the upper portion of the main body 1. A document feeder 3 conveys a sheet-like document to a predetermined position on the document table 2. The document conveyed to the document table 2 by the document feeder 3 is read by the reading unit 4 and read. The data is processed by the image processing unit, converted into an electrical signal, and transmitted to the writing laser unit 5.

  Here, the digital composite copying machine body 1 functions as a copying machine when data from the reading unit 4 is input to the writing laser unit 5, and functions as a printer when an output signal of a personal computer is input. Further, if a transmission signal from the facsimile machine of another machine is input and a signal from the reading unit 4 is transmitted to the facsimile machine of the other machine, it functions as a facsimile machine. Based on these input data, the writing laser unit 5 emits laser light and scans the photosensitive drum 12.

  Reference numeral 1A denotes a sheet feeding unit. The sheet feeding unit 1A is configured to transfer sheets S stored in decks 30 and 31 and sheet cassettes 32 and 33, which are sheet storage units built in the digital multifunction copying machine main body 1, to an image forming unit. A multi-sheet feeding unit 210 that is a manual sheet feeding device including deck sheet feeding units 34 and 35 and a cassette sheet feeding unit 36.37 that feed sheets 1B, a sheet feeding tray 74 that is a sheet stacking unit, and a sheet feeding unit 210A. Is provided.

  The image forming unit 1B includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 12, a charger 13, a developing device 14, a transfer charger 19, and the like. Then, a laser beam corresponding to the image information emitted from the writing laser unit 5 is scanned on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 uniformly charged by the charger 13 to form a latent image, and a developing device is formed on the latent image. A toner image is formed by 14, and the toner image is transferred to the upper surface of the sheet S by the transfer charger 19 on the sheet S conveyed in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 12. Further, a separation charger 20 for separating the transferred sheet and a cleaner 26 for removing the toner remaining on the drum 12 are also provided.

  Further, downstream of the image forming unit 1B, a conveyance unit 21 that conveys the sheet S to which the toner image is transferred, and a fixing device 22 that fixes the image on the sheet S conveyed by the conveyance unit 21 are provided. ing.

  The fixing device 22 as a heating / pressurizing unit includes a heating / pressurizing mechanism.

  On the downstream side of the fixing unit 22, a conveyance path for discharging the sheet from the main body 1 and a conveyance path switching unit 121 that reverses the sheet or switches the conveyance path to both sides are provided. A discharge roller 24 that discharges the sheet from the main body 1 and a reverse large roller 115 that reverses or conveys the sheet to both sides are provided downstream of the conveyance path switching unit 121.

  The sheet S on which the toner image is formed is conveyed to the fixing device 22 and is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the surface of the sheet S. When the image S is discharged with the image surface facing upward, the sheet S after fixing passes through the path a of the conveyance path switching unit 121 and is discharged to the discharge tray 25 or the post-processing device 26 (not shown) by the discharge roller 24. Discharged. When the image surface is discharged below, it passes through the path b of the transport path switching means 121 and is reversed by the reverse large roller 115 and is discharged by the discharge roller 24 or the post-processing device 26 (not shown). To be discharged. When the image surface is double-sided, it passes through the path b of the conveyance path switching unit 121, is guided to the double-side reversal path c, is reversed by the large reverse roller 115, and is formed by the double-sided conveyance rollers 112 to 114, etc. Re-transported.

  Details of the multi-feed unit 210 are shown in FIGS. Reference numeral 211a denotes a sheet feeding roller that feeds the sheet, 211b denotes a conveyance roller that conveys the sheet, and 211c denotes a separation roller that forms a separation unit for separating the sheets one by one. The drive of the separation roller 211c is transmitted by a torque limiter 211d and a laminate mode drive clutch 211e (not shown). A sheet detection 211f for detecting the presence / absence of a sheet is also arranged (not shown).

  When an image is formed on a sheet, the laminate mode drive clutch 211e operates so as to connect the drive. In this case, the sheets are separated one by one by the cooperation of each roller and the torque limiter. This is shown in FIG.

  The sheet is fed by the paper feed roller 211a to the nip portion between the transport roller 211b and the separation roller 211c. The sheet is conveyed by the conveyance roller 211b. When one sheet is conveyed, the separation roller 211c is driven or stopped. When a plurality of sheets are conveyed, the separation roller 211c rotates in the direction opposite to the conveying direction, returns the lower sheet, and separates the sheets one by one. When there is no sheet, the separation roller 211c follows the conveyance roller. The forward / reverse rotation of the separation roller is controlled by a torque limiter 211d.

  When the laminating mode drive clutch 211d is operated so that the drive is not transmitted to the separation roller 211c, since the drive is not transmitted, the separation roller 211c can be freely rotated and is rotated following the conveying roller 211b (FIG. 4). .

  FIG. 5 shows a case where the laminate is fed when the laminate mode drive clutch 211e is operated so that the drive is connected. The conveyance roller 211b gives a force for feeding the upper part of the laminate sheet in the conveyance direction. The separation roller 211c gives a force for feeding the lower part of the laminate sheet in the direction opposite to the conveying direction. Due to this up and down force, as shown in FIG. 5, a gap and distortion occur in the sheet sandwiched between the laminates. In this state, when transported and heated / fixed, adhesion failure due to gaps, deformation of the laminate due to distortion, and wrinkles in the laminate occur.

  FIG. 6 shows a case where a laminate is fed when the laminate mode driving clutch 211e is operated to be turned off. Since the driving of the separation roller 211c is not transmitted, the separation roller 211c is rotated by being driven by the conveyance roller 211b, so that there is no clearance / distortion as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to perform a good laminating process without causing adhesion failure due to the clearance, laminating deformation due to distortion, and wrinkle generation in the laminating.

  Next, the operation in the laminating mode will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the laminating process in the laminating mode.

  When the laminate mode is selected (S1), the display unit 2002 is displayed to set the laminate in the multi-feed unit 210 (S2). If the laminate mode is not selected, the process proceeds to another process (SX). When a sheet is detected by the multi-feed sheet detection 211f (S3), a confirmation is made as to whether or not there is one laminate, and input of confirmation is waited (S4).

  In the case of one sheet, setting for laminating is performed (S5). The settings for laminating are “settings related to heating / pressurizing for performing laminating” and “settings not used in laminating mode”. Since the settings related to heating and pressing are different between fixing an image on a sheet and laminating, settings for laminating are performed. These include conveyance speed, fixing temperature control, fixing nip amount, and fixing pressure. Since it is not necessary to form an image on the sheet at the time of laminating, the setting of the image forming unit 1B is set to a setting suitable for performing laminating. For example, laser emission, transfer / development / charging high voltage setting / control and toner control. If the number of laminates is not one, the process returns to S <b> 2 in which the laminate is displayed on the display unit 2002 so as to be set in the multi-sheet feeding unit 210.

  After the setting for laminating (S5), the laminating mode driving clutch 211e is operated so that the driving of the separation roller 211b is cut off (S6), and paper feeding is started (S7). As a result, as shown in FIG. 6 described above, the separation roller 211c is not transmitted with driving force, and is rotated by the conveyance roller 211b. Therefore, there is no gap or distortion in the laminate. The fed laminate passes through the image forming unit 1B and the conveying unit 21 of FIG. 1 and passes through the fixing unit 22, and is heated and pressed to be laminated (S8). It is discharged to the processing device 26 (not shown) (S9) and ends (S10). As described above, the separation roller 211c is turned off to release the separation operation, so that no gap or distortion occurs in the laminate when the laminate is fed. Therefore, it is possible to perform a good laminating process without causing adhesion failure due to a gap or laminating deformation or wrinkle due to distortion.

  FIG. 8 shows a paper feed process when the mode is not the laminating mode (when the image is formed on the sheet). The laminating mode drive clutch 211e is operated so that the drive is transmitted to the separation roller 211c (S101), the paper feed is started (S102), and the process proceeds to the next process (S103). As a result, as shown in FIG. 3 described above, the laminate mode driving clutch operates so as to connect the driving, so that the sheets are separated one by one by the cooperation of each roller and the torque limiter.

(Example 2)
FIGS. 9 and 10 show a multi-feed unit of a digital composite copying machine of the second embodiment. The first embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the separation method is the separation pad method, and the description of the same configuration is omitted.

  311a is a conveyance roller that feeds and conveys the sheet, 311c is a separation piece (separation pad) that separates the sheets one by one, and 311d is a lifter that presses the sheet against the conveyance roller. The separation piece 311c and the conveyance roller (separation roller) 311a constitute a separation unit. The lifter 311d is normally lowered by a vertical mechanism (not shown) (FIG. 9), but is raised when paper is fed (FIG. 10).

  Normally, the separation piece 311c is in contact with the conveyance roller 311a, but is separated from the conveyance roller 311a by a laminate solenoid 311e (FIG. 12). When an image is formed on a sheet, the separation piece 311c is in contact with the conveyance roller 311a by a laminating solenoid 311e. In this case, the sheets are separated one by one by cooperation of each roller and the separation piece 311c (FIG. 10). FIG. 11 shows a case where the laminate is fed when the laminate solenoid 311e abuts the separation piece 311c on the transport roller 311a. The conveyance roller 311a gives a force for feeding the upper part of the laminate sheet in the conveyance direction. The separation piece 311c gives a force to stop the lower part of the laminate sheet in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction. Due to the up and down force, as shown in FIG. 11, clearance and distortion occur in the sheet sandwiched between the laminates. In this state, when transported and heated / fixed, adhesion failure due to gaps, deformation of the laminate due to distortion, and wrinkles in the laminate occur.

  FIG. 12 shows a case where a laminate is fed when the laminate solenoid 311e is separated from the transport roller 311a. Since the separation pieces 311c are separated from each other, the paper is fed along the transport roller 311a, and no gap or distortion as shown in FIG. 11 occurs. Therefore, it is possible to perform a good laminating process without causing adhesion failure due to the clearance, laminating deformation due to distortion, and wrinkle generation in the laminating.

  FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the laminating process in the laminating mode.

  When the laminate mode is selected (S21), the display unit displays that the laminate is set in the multi-feed unit (S22). If the laminate mode is not selected, the process proceeds to another process (S2X). When a sheet is detected by multi-sheet detection (S23), a confirmation is made as to whether or not there is one laminate, and input of confirmation is waited (S24).

  In the case of one sheet, setting for laminating is performed (S25). If it is not one sheet, the process returns to S22, where the display unit displays the laminate so as to be set in the multi-feed unit. The setting for laminating (S25) is the same as the setting for laminating (S5) in the first embodiment. After the setting for laminating (S25), the friction piece 311c is separated from the conveying roller 311a by the laminating solenoid 311e (S26), and feeding is started (S27). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 12 described above, the separation pieces 311c are separated from each other, so that no gap or distortion occurs in the laminate. The fed laminate passes through the fixing device 22 and is heated and pressed to be laminated (S28), discharged (S29), and the process is finished (S30).

  Thus, by separating the separation piece 311c and releasing the separation operation, the gap and the distortion shown in FIG. 11 do not occur in the laminate when the laminate is fed. Therefore, it is possible to perform a good laminating process without causing adhesion failure due to a gap or laminating deformation or wrinkle due to distortion.

  FIG. 14 shows a paper feed process when the mode is not the laminating mode (when the image is formed on the sheet). The separating piece 311c is operated by the laminating solenoid 311e so as to abut on the conveying roller 311a (S201), the paper feeding is started (S202), and the process proceeds to the next process (S203). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10 described above, the separation solenoid 311e operates so that the separation piece 311c abuts against the conveyance 311a. Separate the sheets.

  In the embodiment, the separation operation is released by a clutch or a solenoid, but the present invention is not limited to this. Although this is done automatically, this may also be done manually.

  Further, although the multi-sheet feeding unit is used, the sheet feeding location is not limited.

  Further, the operation flow of the laminating process is not limited to the flow of the embodiment.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital composite copying machine (image forming apparatus) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an overview diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Explanatory drawing of sheet feeding separation operation. Explanatory drawing of sheet feeding separation operation. Explanatory drawing of the separation operation | movement at the time of laminate paper feeding. Explanatory drawing of the separation operation | movement at the time of laminate paper feeding. The flowchart of a lamination process. 10 is a flowchart of sheet feeding processing when forming a sheet image. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet feeding separation operation in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet feeding separation operation in the second embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the isolation | separation operation | movement at the time of the laminate paper feeding in a 2nd Example. Explanatory drawing of the isolation | separation operation | movement at the time of the laminate paper feeding in a 2nd Example. The flowchart of a lamination process. 10 is a flowchart of sheet feeding processing when forming a sheet image. Explanatory drawing of a laminate. Laminated sheet.

Explanation of symbols

1. Main body (image forming device)
210 Multi-sheet feeder (sheet feeding means)
211e Laminate mode drive clutch (separating operation release means, drive transmission / power saving means)
311e Laminate solenoid (separation release means, separation means)
22 Fixing device (heating / pressurizing means)
2001 Operation unit (operation means)
2002 Display section (display means)

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus having a sheet feeding unit having a separation unit that separates sheets one by one, and a heating / pressurizing unit,
A mode in which an image is formed on a sheet and a mode in which a sheet sandwiched between laminates is laminated by the heating / pressurizing unit, and the separation operation of the sheet feeding unit is canceled in the laminating mode, Image forming apparatus. In Claim 1, the separation part is a retard roller system,
In the laminating mode, the separation operation is canceled by cutting the drive transmission of the retard roller included in the separation unit. In Claim 1, the separation method of the separation part is a separation pad method,
An image forming apparatus that releases a separation operation by separating a separation pad member and a separation roller of the separation unit in the laminating mode.   4. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit and an operation unit, wherein the display for confirming whether or not a plurality of sheets are stacked on the sheet feeding unit that feeds the laminate in the laminating mode. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus waits for an operation until a confirmation input is made from the operation unit.

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